Storm apron or curtain for wagons.



No. 729,677. I PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903. H. -W-. SGHLOSS-ER.

STORM APRON 0B. CURTAIN FOR WAGONS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 190a.

no noun. 7 I -2 SHEETS-81133331.

, UL: gm nllhllnm "niimuu 1 Patented June 2,1903.

FFICE.

HENRY W. SCHLOSSER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AS-

SIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN F. EARNSI-IAW, OF WASHINGTON,

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

STORM APRON OR CURTAIN FOR WAGONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 729, 77, dated June 2, 190

t nmion filedJani iary 7,1903. statin 139,157. some To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY -W.SGHLOSSER,

a citizen of the United States," residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Storm Aprons or Curtains for Wagons; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in i storm aprons or curtains for wagons and in devices for attaching the same to wagons and apron or curtain to a wagon or other vehicle and for adjusting the apron or curtain and for slidably connecting the same to the wagon or other vehicle, so that either side of the curtain may be moved toward and from one side of the wagon or other vehicle to permit the driver or occupant to leave and enter the wagon without disturbing or having to remove the storm curtain or apron.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a wagon-top provided with my improved storm apron or curtain and its adjusting and supporting devices; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the storm apron or curtain, showing the samerun rolled; and Fig. 4 is an end elevation show-f ing the same rolled.

My improved storm apron or curtain 1 may be constructed of oil-canvas or other suitable fabric and of two longitudinally disposed widths or sections 2 3, the latter being uppermost. In the upper side of the lower section 2 is a broad hem 4, adapted to receive astiffformation of creases.

ening-bar 5, which is disposed transversely of the apron or curtain and extends to within 'a suitable distance of the sides'thereof and is prevented from moving longitudinally in the said hem 4 by means of rivets orothersuitable devices 5', which are employed to secure the inner ends of straps 6 to the inner side of the curtain at suitable distances from the sides thereof. The lower edge of the upper section 3 overlaps the upper edge portion of the lower section 2 for a distance equal tothe width of the said broad hem 4, and the end portions of said upper section 3 are stitched to the said lower section 2, as at 6, thereby forming a placket or opening 7 in the cur t-ain, at the central portionthereof, through which the reins may be passed. The upper portion of the upper section 30f the curtain is turned over the upper supporting and stifiening bar 8, which is of suitable dimensions. By the provision of these stiifening-bars the curtain is adapted to be readily rolled for storage when notin use and the curtain is also prevented from being folded, and hence it does not become creased and worn by the At the lower side of the curtain, on the inner side thereof, are straps 9, which are adapted for use in fastening the curtain when the same is rolled and also for suspending the curtain" from suitable hooks or other devices a in one side of the top when the curtain is not in use. The said straps are here shown as provided with rings 10, through which their free ends may be passed after the curtain has been rolled up to maintain the same in a rolled condition; but I do not limit myself in these particulars, as other suitable devices may be employed for this purpose. The straps 9 may be also employed for securing the lower side of the curtain to buttons Z) on the under sideof the footboard b of the wagon or other vehicle. At the upper side of the curtain,near the ends of the supporting-bar 8, are adjusting hangering hanger-straps are provided with suitable openings at suitable distances apart.

It will be observed by reference to the drawings and understood from the foregoing description that the end portions of the curtain extend beyond the stiffening and supporting bars with which the same is provided, so that the end portions of the curtain are rendered flexible and are adapted to be extended around the front portions of the sides of the vehicle-top to exclude wind, rain, and snow. The straps 6 are adapted to pass around the standards 0 at the front corners of the vehicle-top and to be attached to suitable buttons 61, with which said standards are provided, to thus secure either or both ends of the curtain and also permit the same to be readily loosened.

In the sides of the vehicle-top at a suitable elevation are supporting-guides e, which are here shown as screw-eyes, but which may in practice be any suitable devices, and the same serve to slidably support a pair of longitudinally-slidable supporting-rods which have stop devices g at their inner ends to limit their forward movement and are provided at their front ends with hooks or other suitable devices h,adapted to engage appropriate openingsin the hanger-straps 11 to suspend the cu rtain or apron from the said supporting-rods and to permit of the vertical adjustment of the curtain, as may be desired. By running forward one of the said slidably-supported rods the curtain may be opened at either end from the wagon or other vehicle to enable the driver to leave or enter the same, and this may be done, as will be readily understood, without the necessity of first detaching the curtain or otherwise disarranging the same, and the curtainat all times remains in a position to effectively exclude the elements. When the curtain is drawn closely against the front of the vehicle-top by moving the supporting-rods rearwardly, it may be secured in such position by means of straps on, with which the front standards of the vehicle-top are provided, which straps are adapted to be passed around the hooks at the front ends of the longitudinally adjustable supportingrods and to be engaged by the buttons or other suitable devices a, with which said standards are also provided.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of my invention will be readily understood,

it is thought, without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. A vehicle-top having longitudinally-adjustable supporting elements, and a transversely-disposed curtain or apron having its opposite end portions connected to said supporting elements, substantially as described.

2. A vehicle-top having longitudinally-adjustable supporting elements at its sides, and a transversely-disposed end curtain or apron having its opposite end portions connected to said supporting elements, said curtain or apron depending from said supporting elements, substantially as described.

3. .A vehicle-top having supporting devices at its sides, onelongitudiually adjustable, and a transversely-disposed end curtain or apron having its opposite end portions connected to said supporting devices, substantially as de scribed.

4.. Acurtain orapron of the class described, comprising a lower section and an upper sec tion, the former having a broad hem in its upper side, a stiffening bar in said hem, the sides of the apron projecting beyond the ends of the stiftening-bar, the lower portion of the upper section being secured on and overlapping the front upper portion of the lower section and connected thereto for a suitable distance from its ends, whereby a placket or rein-opening is formed between said sections and proximate to the said stiffening-bar, substantially as described.

5. An end curtain or apron for vehicles, having limp end portions, and longitudinally,

.independentlymovable supporting devices from which the curtain is hung, the limp end portions of the curtain extending beyond the said supporting devices, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY W. SCHLOSSER.

Witnesses:

BENJ. G. CowL, ROY C. HEFLnnownR. 

